Villarreal had to settle for a draw (1-1) this Thursday against anderlecht in the first leg of the round of 16 of the UEFA Conference League, a weak match for the Spanish team diluted under the Belgian rain that will have to improve next week at La Cerámica to avoid surprise.
The ‘submarine’ took time to navigate to its liking in the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium from Brussels, but went into the break with dominance and Manu Trigueros made it 0-1 in the 28th minute. With rotations, Quique Setién’s team gradually managed possession to get out of the local pressure at the start, with gaps above.
With a bit of patience and more precision, Villarreal took advantage of those spaces, without giving an option to the rival’s quick transitions. Francis Amuzu and Benito Ramanwho even scored offside, woke up the Spanish team, forced to take the match very seriously if they didn’t want surprises.
So, Baena, Trigueros and Parejo they took control but, with a lot of people behind, Anderlecht defended well. The first time he moved the ball well and quickly, the ‘submarine’ had a clear one with Samu Chukwueze, but Raman responded in the same minute. The Belgian team cheered up again but Villarreal punished the spaces with Trigueros only to make it 0-1.
The Spanish team did not need much to go to the locker room with that income, against an opponent far from the level of their record, but the resumption again was local. The Belgian team believed in their options against a weak ‘submarine’, overwhelmed by pressure and unable to regain control with possession.
In a loss of Trigueros, Dreyer he took a lash that beat Pepe Reina to make it 1-1 and the game was played on the yellow field. Setién immediately put Gerard Moreno and Yeremi Pino in, and continued the search with Jackson, Ramón Terrats and Lo Celso, but Villarreal did not send again. those of brian riemer they did their best to squeeze the rival and accumulated good chances to win.
Murillo and Slimani gave Reina problems and Setién’s men barely had a couple of approaches without finishing off on goal. Anderlecht, in a weak season, will visit grown The ceramic against a Villarreal that will have to rebuild its best version, seen in the last days of the league, to advance in a European competition that has not smiled at Setién since his signing in October.